Selective fluid valve



Feb- 15, 1944 J. H. T. MILLINGTON 2,341,940

. sELEcTlvE FLUID VALVE `Filed- Feb. 14, 1942 2 smae's-sheufI 2 /m fm1-2) IATTORNEY Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES ?ATENT OFFICE SELECTIVE FLUID VALVE Application February 14, 1942, Serial No. 430,923

l0 Claims.

This invention relates to valve means regulating the flow of fluids in a conduit, and more particularly to a multi-valve means for regulating simultaneously the ow of fluids in a plurality of conduits.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a multi-valve means for regulating simultaneously the flow of fluids in a plurality of conduits.

Another object is to provide a means for regulating simultaneousls7 the flow of fluids in a plurality of conduits, said means being adjustable to obtain any desired relative proporticning of the fluids in the said conduits.

Still another object is to provide an adjustable valve means adapted particularly to regulate the relative volumes of the elastic fluids of air, gas and oxygen passing from separate supply conduits through the valve means to a burner.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the invention is more fully hereinafter disclosed.

In accordance with the above objects I have devised the multi-valve means illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, as a specific embodiment of the present invention, illustrates a valve means particularly adapted for the regulation and control of the relative volumes of the elastic fiuids, air, gas and oxygen, passing through the valve means to a burner, thereby to obtain at the burner a desired flame within a range of ames known in the art as a pilot flame to a high temperature flame.

In the art of Working glass, for example, it is frequently necessary to vary the flame at the burner from a small pilot llame to a sharp high temperature name and to intermediate types of flames between these two extremes. Such a variation of flame is obtained by regulating the relative volumes of air, gas and oxygen passing in admixture to the burner. For example, a small pilot flame is obtained by a reduced Volume of gas passing to the burner; a soft brush flame is obtained with a greater volume of gas; a medium hard flame is obtained by mixing a small amount of air with the gas passing to the burner; a hard re is obtained by mixing still more air with the gas passing to the burner; and a sharp or needle high temperature flame is obtained by mixing oxygen with the air-gas mixture which was used to produce the hard re fiame.

The manual control of the relative volumes of air, gas and oxygen to produce the several types of flames above identified is lnexpedient and time consuming, and heretofore in the art various means have been proposed to automatically control such gas mixtures. None of the means heretofore provided, however, have been entirely satisfactory for the primary reason that no easy manual adjustment of the means to compensate for Variations in air, gas and oxygen pressures or for Variations in the calorific value of the gas has been provided. The present invention provides such a manually operative adjustment of the multi-valve means in combination with a different type of valve means, per se, than has heretofore been employed in the art, insofar as I am aware.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated in eight figures a preferred arrangement of the present invention designed particularly for the control and regulation of the relative volumes of the gases (air, oxygen and illuminating gas) passing in admixture to a burner of a type employed in the glass working art. As the burner, per` se, forms no part of the present invention, the details thereof have not been illustrated nor has the manner in which the present invention is associated therewith been shown as the same is obvious to one skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of the valve means of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line III-HI of Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View on the line IV-IV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 illustrates ve diierent positions of the valve parts adjusted a certain Way.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a modification of myvalve operating means.

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the same.

Figure 8 is a. horizontal sectional view taken on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7.

The valve means of the present invention comprises a plurality of 4cylinders assembled with their respectVe axes substantially parallel and coplanar, and a plurality of pistons, one for each cylinder, with oppositely aligned inlet and outlet ports in each cylinder Wall preferably lying in the same horizontal plane, cross-hole passageways in each piston, and manually operative means to selectively locate the cross-hole passageway of each piston relative to the ports of each cylinder to provide either full closure of the ports, full opening of the said ports, or a predetermined partial opening of the said ports, thereby to obtain any desired volume relation between the gases supplied to each cylinder inlet port in the conduits conducting the gases away from each cylinder outlet port opening.

1t is customary in the art to supply the gases (air, oxygen and illuminating gas) to the valve means under pressure for passage therethrough to the burner, and to regulate and control the relative volumes of the gases passing through the valve means to the burner by manually adjusting the valve means to permit the desired volume of each gas to pass the said valve means. Variations in the pressures of the said gases and in the caloriiic value of the illuminating gas supplied to the valve make it diicult with any type of valve means to obtain consistent gas mixtures at the burner by any mechanical means to obtain a predetermined position of the valve means.

The manually operative means to selectively locate the piston cross-hole passageways with respect to the cylinded inlet and outlet port hole openings includes also means to adjust the particular setting on each piston so that variations in gas pressures and in the illuminating gas, caloriiic value may be readily and easily' compensated.

Referring to the drawings, the valve means of the present invention comprises three cylindrically-shaped valve chambers (C3, C2 and C1) one for each of the gases air, oxygen and illuminating gas. Preferably the three chambers (C1, C2 and C3) are positioned with their axes lying in parallel spaced relation in substantially the same vertical plane, as shown. Most simply, this arrangement is provided by forming three substantially parallel cylindrical holes in a body portion B. Aligned opposite inlet and outlet port openings i1, i2, i3 and o1, o2 and os, respectively lying in substantially the same horizontal plane, are provided in each chamber wall. Pistons P1, P2 and Px. respectively, are provided for each chamber C1, C2 and C3 and cross-hole passageways h1, h2 and ha are provided in each piston P1, P2 and P3, respectively.

Spring means S1, (S2, S3) is provided in the bottom of each chamber C1 (C2,I C3) to urgeY each piston P1 (P2, P3) upward-ly in each chamber, and stop means K1 and K3 are provided' at the top of chambers C1 and C3 to respectively enga-ge shoulders L1 and L3 on pistons P1 and P3, respectively, to hold said pistons inl a position locating the respective cross-holes. h1 and h2 in full open position across the port holes i1, o1 and is, o3., respectively.

Piston P2 has av length considerably greater than the lengths cfpistons P1` and P3, and carries on the extending end thereofmanually-oper- 1 ative valve vactuating means and the manuallyoperative valve adjusting means.

The manually-operative valve actuating means comprises essentially lever means M to selectively move the pistons P1, P2 and P3 in opposition to the spring' means S1, S24 and S3 from the advanced position indicated in the drawings (Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive), wherein each cross-hole opening of pistons P1, P2 and P3 are in-full openpositionwith respect to the chamber port holes, to a position wherein each cross-hole piston opening is in full closed position with respect to the. chamber port holes and to, a plurality of intermediate desired positions of partial closurewhereby desired mixtures of the gases air, oxygen and illuminating gas, passing through the valve means to the burner, are obtained.

The specific arrangement to accomplish this desired result may. be'varied widely Without essential departure from the present invention. In,

the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the means is designed to provide a plurality of predetermined positions of the pistons thereby to obtain a plurality of flame conditions at a burner used in the art of working glass.

As indicated in the drawings, the center piston P2 extends beyond the top of the valve a sufcient distance to provide for the attachment at the end thereof of lever meansM for reciprocating the piston within chamber C2 and to provide also for the adjustable attachment thereto of cross-bar means ID with sufficient clearance therebelow to permit reciprocation of the piston P2 Within its chamber. On the ends of cross-bar IB, which forms arms projecting laterally from the piston P2, are set screws I3 and I4 provided in 9, position so that their ends, in effect, forming adjustable iingers, engage the heads of pistons P1 and P3 upon reciprocation of the piston P2, as by the lever means M provided on the end thereof.

By varying thev adjustment of the set screws I3 and I4, the precise positions of engagement of the piston heads P1 and P3 may be varied to. obtain a Wide variety of operation sequences. By varying the location of cross-.bar I0 onv the end of piston P2, as by shifting the same vertically therealong, and then tightening set screw II in groove I2, further control and regulation-of the operational sequence of the valve means of the present invention may be obtained.

Lever M is pivotally secured to the end o f the piston P2 by means of pin I5 riding loosely in elongated opening I6, withy one end of the lever pivotally mounted on shaft II held by arm I8, in turn carried by base B and with the` other end of lever M extending beyond the piston P2A ay suffi.- cient distance to permit manual actuation ofthe same by an operator.

To provide for placing the pistons withA the cross-hole passageways thereof in ay plurality of locations intermediate fully open and fully closed positions, the extending free end of lever` M may be provided with any desired type of shift-lock means equivalent functionally to the shift-lock means shown.

The shift-lock means shown comprises aspring clip member 20 secured onto the free, end of lever M and a notched member Tmounted on base B in a position, relative tothe path of travelj ofA the spring clip member 29, to provide a trackway for the said spring clip member 2 0, the notches numbered 1 to 5, inclusive, on said trackway T, for ex,- ample, providing for a plurality of predetermined intermediate positions for the pistons between fully opened position and fully closed position, the latter position being obtained.` when thepiston P2 has been moved in opposition. tolsprng means S2 to a, position bringing the spring clip member 2ein engagement with the groeve marked oi in trackway T.

As a specic example of one adjustment o f the valve of the present invention, referenceshould be had to Figure 5, wherein in five (5) figures is shown the sequence of operating position.A ofthe valve conforming to the grooves, 1 to 5.3 inclusive, intrackway T (Fig. 3)

When thepiston P2. is moved.. by knob. to. a position bringing. Spring Clip member 20.111 ensagement with noten 1 on. trackway, T, theedjustment of set screw I3 on collar Ill. securedon theV extension, of piston P2, is-v such astQpermit the spring means. Sitourge piston4 P1l toaposition wherein the cross-hole opening hvj., therein i s about 1A; openacrossA the port. holes. i1), andQi-,I

the walls of chamber C1, while both of the crossholes h2 and ha remain in a position below the respective port hole openings. Whenthe illuminating gas supply is controlled .by this chamber, this provides merely a sufficient amount of gas to the burner to support a small pilot flame.

When the piston P2 is raised to the position indicated by the engagement of spring clip member 20 in notch 2, spring means Si urges piston P1 to a position bringing the cross-hole passageway h1 to a position where the inlet and outlet openings i1 and o1 are about 1,/2 open while the ports of both chambers P2 and P3 remain closed. This provides a larger supply of gas to the burner forming what is known as a soft brush flame.

When the piston P2 is raised to the position indicated by the engagement of spring clip member 2D in notch 3, spring means S1 has moved piston P1 to full open position wherein it is held by stop means K-I and spring means S3 has moved piston Pa to a position wherein ports i3 and o3 in the walls of chamber C3 are about 1/2 open, thereby permitting air from a pressure supply source (not shown) to pass to the burner in admixture with the gas passing through the port openings in chamber C1. This provides an air-gas mixture giving a medium hard name. As the relative pressures of the air and gas may vary from time to time or the caloric value of the gas change somewhat, the precise relative proportioning of this air-gas mixture may be adjusted by movement of set screw i4 in collar I0 up or down, thereby increasing or decreasing the air ratio at this particular setting to obtain the desired medium hard llame.

I When the piston P2 is moved to the position indicated by the engagement of spring clip member 20 in notch 4, spring means S3 has urged piston Pa to a position bringing cross-hole ha to full open position across port holes i3 and os in chamber C3. Further movement of the piston P3 is restrained by stop K3, but cross-hole h2 in piston Pz, however, has not yet been moved to a position permitting the iiow of oxygen through the port openings i2 and o2 of cylinder C2. This position gives a hard fire under the usual air-gas pressures employed in such burners.

Further movement of piston Pz to a position bringing spring clip member 20 in engagement with the notch 5 brings the cross-hole h2 in open position across port openings i2 and o2 in chamber C2 permitting oxygen under pressure to pass in admixture with the gas-air mixture from chambers C1 and C3 to the burner, thereby producing a high temperature flame known generally as a sharp needle ame at the burner.

Such an arrangement as hereinabove described and as illustrated in the drawings Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, affords a simple and effective control and regulation of the gas-air-oxygen mixtures commonly employed in the art of glass working. Where the gas, air and oxygen pressures in the supply conduits leading to the valve means of the present invention are excessive, pressure reducing or pressure regulating valves may be interposed.

Where it is desired to have a more flexible control of the air, gas and oxygen mixtures passing to the burner, the arrangement illustrated in Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, or its functional equivalent may be employed. In this arrangement, the reciprocation of piston P2 is eiected by a rack and gear arrangement, the rack R being located on an extension of the piston P2 and the gear G being located as a segment on a manually rotatable Wheel W mounted on bearing arm 30. To provide for holding the manually actuated pistons P1, Pz and P3 in any position, means such as spring clip member 3| engaging theknurled peripheral surface of the wheel W may be provided.

With this arrangement, by varying the adjustment afforded by set screws I3EL and I4a and the vpoint of vlocation of cross-bar l0a on the exten- 'iiow of fluids generally, without essential departure therefrom, and all such modifications and adaptations are contemplated as may fall Withinthe scope of the following claims:

I claim:

l. In a valve for regulating the flow of fluids in conduits to mix them in selected proportions, a plurality of cylindrical valve chambers provided with oppositely aligned inlet and outlet port openings in the side walls thereof, a piston provided with a cross-hole therethrough and disposed in each chamber, means to adjustably locate each piston in its cylinder to dispose the said cross-hole in open and closed positions relative to said port openings and to intermediate partially opened positions therebetween, resilient means to urge said pistons against said locating means, means to limit movement of each piston by its resilient means beyond its full open position, and adjustable means to simultaneously operate said pistons.

2. In a valve regulating the flow of fluids in conduits to mix them in selected proportions, a plurality of cylindrical valve chambers each having opposite aligned inlet and outlet port openings in the side walls thereof, a piston member 5' slidably mounted in each cylindrical chamber,

said pistons being provided with cross-holes therethrough, means to adjustably locate the said pistons in the said chambers with the cross-holes disposed relative to the said port openings within the range of positions lying between fully opened to fully closed, resilient means to urge said pistons against said locating means, means to limit movement of each piston by its resilient means beyond its full open position, and adjustable means to simultaneously operate said pistons.

3. In a valve for regulating the iiow of uid in a plurality of conduits, a plurality of cylindrically-shaped valve chambers each provided with opposite aligned inlet and outlet ports communicating with separate fluid conduits, a cylindrically-shaped piston in each chamber, provided with a cross-hole therethrough, and means to selectively position each of the plurality of pistons within their chambers, with the said crosshole of each piston in a desired position relative to the associated port openings, within the range between fully open to fully closed positions, said means including an arm projecting from one of said pistons and carrying an adjustable nger for engagement with another piston.

4. In a valve for regulating the ilow of fluid in a plurality of conduits, a plurality of cylindrically-shaped valve chambers sustained in parallel spaced relation, each chamber being prof vided with opposite aligned inlet and outlet ports communieating exteriorly with. separate uid conduits, -acylindricallv-shaped piston in each chamber providedV .with a. cross-hole therethrough to. communicate. with the inlet andY outlet oi. the chamber when the. said piston isv 1ocated in one position in said chamber, toclose the said ports. whenthe said piston is moved to a second position in, said chamberand to partia-liv open said ports when the said: piston is moved4 to intermediate positions therebetween, and manually operative means to selectively move the pistons to any desired positionv within the said range of positions above identified, said means including an arm projecting from one of said pistons and carrying an adjustable finger for engagement with another piston.

5. In a'valve for regulating the flow of fluid in a plurality 'of conduits, a plurality ofv cylindrically-shaped valve chambers one for each conduit, inlet and outlet ports oppositely aligned in the sidewalls` of each chamber and communicating exteriorly with said conduits, a cylindricallyshaped piston in each chamber, each piston being provided with a cross-.hole therethrough to communioate; with the said ports when the piston is loca-ted in one position in its chamber, to not communicate therewith when the piston is 1ocalted in a second position in its chamber, and toipartially overlap therewith at intermediate positions therebetween, and adjustable means to move,- rnanually the said pistons selectively to obtain any desired relative volume of fluid passing through the said valve in each conduit,v said means including an arm projecting from one of said. pistons and carrying an adjustable nger for engagement with another piston.

6.k Valve means for regulating the flow of fluid in aplurality of conduits, comprising a plurality of axially parallel spaced cylindrically-shaped valve chambers, one for each conduit, oppositely aligned; inlet and outlet ports in the side walls of each of said chambers, a cylindrically-shaped piston for each chamber havingA a cross-hole therethrough which in one position of the said pistol-1in the chamber provides a passageway for fluid through the said piston from the inlet to the; outlet port.. of the saidf chamber, in a second position does not provide such a passageway, and at; intermediate positions therebetween provides a partially opened passageway for said fluid, and means to selectively position each piston in its chamber within the range of positions above stated to provide any desired ratio between the volume of fluid passing through. thev separate valve chambers, said means including an arm projecting from one of said pistons and carrying an adjustable finger for engagement with another piston.

7.. The combination of claim 6, wherein the said means to selectively position the said pistons` is manually adjustabley with respect toeach piston and manually operative withlrespect to all of said pistons` by a common operating` element.

8. Thecoinbination of claim 6, wherein the said: means: to selectively position said pistons comprises 'in combination spring: means slidably and independently actuatingy each. piston in one jreotiom lever means manually operative,rv to actuate, one of; saidk pistons slidably in opposition to the; spring means.` thereof, and adjustable cross-bar.I meansmovable with said; lever-actuated'pistonand carrying; adjustable means to sey lectively actuate the other pistons in opposition to the said spring means.

9x.. Il/Iultiple valve means; for regulating the relative amountsv of air, gas and oxygen passing fromseparate supply conduits under pressureto a, burner, said valve means comprising. three parallel; spaced', cylindricvally-shaped; valve chambers having their axes coplanar and with oppositely aligned inlet and outlet; ports. in the s ide walls thereof, with all of the said openings lying substantially in. the. same plane transverse to the cylindriealaxes 0i the Chambers, acylindricallyshapedH piston for each chamberhaving a cross,- hole therethrough, spring means in they bottom of, each chamber to urge the pistonsl therein upwardly, stop means at the top of each end chamber, to limit, the upward movementof the; two end pistons to a positionv bringing the cross-hole of each, to open position across the port openings in the respective chamber walls, an extensionl on the upper end of the middle piston. and means to'manurally reciprocate the said piston within its chamber, from a position wherein the said crosshole thereinis in fully openedI position relative tothe inlet and outlet portopenings of its chamber-5V to, a lower, position wherein the said crosshOle is remotev fromV said fully Opened position, a cross-bar and means to adjustablyseouredthe same to the extending4 endv of said middle piston withits ends, overlaying theheads of the end pistons, and adjustable set screw means on each end extending downwardlyl towards;` the heads of saidV en -d pistons in a position to engage said heads as the saidmiddle piston is moved downwardiih, thereby to move the said end pistons downwardly` within the said end chambers in opposition to the spring means, and means to secure the said pistons in any desired positiony of downwardmovement between said fully opened to fully closed position of4 each piston,

10. Valve means for a plurality of conduits comprising one valve,v cylinderv for each conduit', each cylinder having aligned` inlet and outlet ports invopposite sides thereof and communicathgwith the respective conduits, a piston reciproeable in, each cylinder and having a transverse port; adapted to move;y into and out of` alignment with said inlet and outlet, ports to open to a desired extent or close said ports, means. for directly reciprocating; one. ofi said pistons. in its cylincler,y a cross. member carried by said piston, and adjustable. means; carried; by said crossv member and operatively associated with another piston, so thaty the; reciprocating means may move and selectively position said; pistons within their cylindersto; provide for a desired sequence in regulatine. the flow of fluid through said valve means- JOHN H. T. MILLINGTON. 

